TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 235

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17. AFTER A BREAK, THE COUNCIL LOOKED AT A TEXT OF POSSIBLE POINTS THE AMBASSADOR MIGHT MAKE WHICH ENCAPSULATED THIS CONCLUSION.

18. I EVENTUALLY CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD ASK THE AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK AS IN PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 10 TO PEKING. WE WOULD THEN NEED TO REVIEW THE SITUATION ON THE EVENING OF 25 FEBRUARY. THIS WAS AGREED.

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20. ALTHOUGH THE COUNCIL WAS LOATH TO TELL THE CHINESE OF A DEADLINE OF 5 MARCH TODAY, I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY BY THE EVENING OF 25 FEBRUARY THEY WILL NOT WANT TO GAZETTE ON 26 FEBRUARY. I WOULD EXPECT THEM THEN TO GO FIRM ON 5 MARCH.

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